Tomas Soucek strikes late winner to hand West Ham victory at Everton

David Moyes wins at Goodison Park for the first time since leaving Everton for Manchester United in 2013 as Tomas Soucek’s late winner moves West Ham just three points off Leicester in third

• West Ham beat Everton 1-0 thanks to Tomas Soucek’s late goal at Goodison Park 
• The Hammers midfielder netted a winner in a game of very few chances
• Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton missed the chance to go one point behind Liverpool

David Moyes’ effusive touchline greeting for Carlo Ancelotti – a fist bump and squeeze to the upper arm – obscured the fact that the Italian trampled on his hopes, precisely a year ago.

Moyes coveted a return to his old Everton job when Marco Silva was sacked. He was close to getting it. But then Italian’s availability became known and that particular ship sailed. That would have been some story. 

The Everton flags flying from the lamp posts on the Walton Lane approach to Goodison Park still parade the identity as ‘the people’s club’ which Moyes gave them when using those words in his inaugural press conference at this place, 19 years ago. It was not to be.

Tomas Soucek (right) scored four minutes from time to give West Ham a 1-0 win at Everton

The result was David Moyes’ first victory at Goodison Park since leaving Everton in 2013

But whatever disappointment Moyes might have felt has been put firmly away. The Scot, who has been dealt more than his share of blows since leaving Merseyside seven years ago, instead returned to West Ham and has been assuredly rebuilding his reputation. 

This performance revealed the fact long before Tomas Soucek pounced from close range to secure the points at the death, pouring cold water on Everton’s impressive four-match winning Premier League streak

Ancelotti has been given resources beyond anything Moyes ever knew in his time here – ‘an awful of money; the owners certainly back their managers,’ as Moyes put it earlier this week – yet even the returning Richarlison could not create a threat against an impressively organised visiting team.

In their successive wins over Chelsea, Arsenal and Leicester last month, Everton could just sit back and counterpunch, though when the moment came for them to attack and dominate a game, Ancelotti’s side faced a taste of what they had dished out.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton missed the chance to go a point behind leaders Liverpool

MATCH FACTS AND RATINGS

Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford 7; Coleman 6, Mina 6, Holgate 6, Godfrey 6.5; Doucoure 6, Davies 7; Richarlison 5.5, Sigurdsson 5.5 (Gomes 63 6), Bernard 6 (Rodriguez 63 6); Calvert-Lewin 5 (Tosun 79 5.5). Substitutes: Olsen, Lossi, Keane, Tosun, Nkounkou, Rodriguez, Gomes, Gordon, Branthwaite

Manager: C Ancelotti 6

West Ham (4-1-4-1): Fabianski 6.5; Coufal 6.5, Dawson 7, Ogbonna 8, Cresswell 7.5; Rice 7.5; Bowen 6.5 (Yarmolenko 73 6.5), Benrahma 6, Soucek 6.5, Fornals 6 (Lanzini 73 6) Haller 5.5 (Antonio 59). Substitutes: Randolph, Balbuena, Snodgrass, Noble, Diop, Antonio, Johnson

Manager: D Moyes 8

Referee: K Friend (Leicestershire) 7

Angelo Ogbonna and Michael Dawson marshalled a precisely organised West Ham defence, shielded by Declan Rice – who brought the usual balance of silk and steel which could be such a gift for England in this summer’s European Championships.

Tom Davies attempted to break the defensive lines from deep for Everton and Richarlison briefly threatened to escape down the right, lifting the ball over Aaron Cresswell and haring after it, but West Ham had every situation covered.

The absence of Alex Iwobi didn’t help the home team. He has been impressive for Everton recently and Ancelotti’s players laboured – lacking the necessary pace to create surprise or force errors. 

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who hasn’t scored since the Merseyside derby in October, was given no service and struggled to make any impression. He misses the injured Lucas Digne’s service from full-back, impressive and athletic though Ben Godfrey has been as replacement.

It all added up to precious few opportunities. A Bernard chest down and volley on the stroke of half-time, bringing a sharp two-handed save from Darren Randolph, diving to his right, was the game’s first attempt on target.

Moyes could have used a little more attacking creativity, too. The absence of Michail Antonio, on the bench again as he is eased back after a hamstring injury, had its effects.

Darren Randolph was drafted in after Lukasz Fabianski’s warm-up injury and kept a clean sheet

Randolph punched a long ball from Tom Davies which Seamus Coleman nearly pounced on

Said Benrahma showed for the ball frequently and displayed urgency but could not get sight of goal, or create it for Sebastian Haller. A Cresswell effort, skimming across the six-yard box, was the closest West Ham’s came to a breakthrough in the first half, though Haller was not there to lay a foot on it.

Neither could the Ivorian connect when Rice fired in a similar ball from the same flank, ten minutes into the second half, and just before the hour mark, Antonio arrived to replace him.

A Cresswell free-kick from the right brought an athletic save from Pickford, twisting to claw the ball away and Everton’s grip on the match drifted terribly. Pablo Fornals miscued a header from Jarrod Bowen’s cross that ought to have put West Ham ahead. Antonio brought another save from Pickford.

Jordan Pickford punched away Aaron Cresswell’s effort as West Ham improved after half-time

So barely beyond the hour mark, Ancelotti sent in the cavalry: a double substitution which introduced James Rodriguez for his first appearance since early December. The Italian had employed some sleight of hand, categorically insisting beforehand that the Colombian would not have recovered from a calf injury for this match. He made little impact after the big reveal.

In the stand, Moyes’ assistant Stuart Pearce demanded more from West Ham and both Andriy Yarmolenka and Manuel Lanzini were introduced in a double substitution which suggested that both sides felt they could secure the late win.

The breakthrough was no great surprise. Yarmolenka fed Tomas Soucek, whose shot brought another powerful double-handed save from Pickford. But his parry sent the ball straight to Cresswell, whose firm, crisp shot across the area, left to right, was diverted in at close range by Soucek, played onside by Godfrey.

Everton brought on James Rodriguez in the second-half but still struggled to create chances

Pablo Fornals missed a big chance to give West Ham the lead by heading a free header wide

Soucek, impressive all season, was a Moyes buy – typical of the kind of players he used to snap up for Everton, where he built at least four good teams.

The win is surely one the Scot’s sweetest of the difficult years since he left for Manchester United. Everton’s tally of 29 points before this game was one short of their highest after 15 matches of a Premier League season, set in 2004-05 under Moyes’ management. The club’s 16th game of that campaign brought another victory. Ancelotti has been prevented from matching that.

Moyes preferred to reflect last night on West Ham, of course. The win maintains the club’s tenth place and takes them within three points of fourth-placed Everton. It’s some renaissance for their manager.

Soucek tapped in the winner late on after Yerry Mina deflected Aaron Cresswell’s fierce shot

 Sportsmail’s SAM BLITZ was on the live blog of Everton vs West Ham with score, lineups and build-up…

Host commentator

That’s all we’ve got time for on the live blog. Stay tuned to the Sportsmail website for reaction to this game along with coverage of Manchester United’s match with Aston Villa.

All over hereat Goodison Park. It wasn’t to classic to start 2021 but it’s a massive three points for David Moyes and West Ham.

Everton were poor and Tomas Soucek made them pay with a goal four minutes from time. The Hammers are now three points behind Carlo Ancelotti’s side. 

90+2 mins: A massive chance for Everton to seal it. Michail Antonio leads a break and bursts past several defenders. As soon as the West Ham striker shapes to shoot he falls on the ball and Manuel Lanzini blasts over.

90 mins: We’re going to have three additional minutes of injury time. Everton are behind…

88 mins: Now how do Everton react to this? Carlo Ancelotti’s side have won their last four matches but after a break in midweek they have been very flat this afternoon.

86 mins: Massive moment which comes out of nowhere. Tomas Soucek sees a shot saved by Jordan Pickford but puts the record straight immediately!

After Pickford parried the West Ham midfielder’s effort, Aaron Cresswell fires an effort back into the mixer on the rebound. Yerry Mina blocks the straight but Soucek reacts well and steers the ball into the net.

West Ham are upsetting the formbook here!

81 mins: James Rodriguez’s free kick is cleared as far as Abdoulaye Doucoure who crosses for Mason Holgate. The Everton defender finds his centre-back partner Yerry Mina with a flick on but the Colombian heads wide.

80 mins: Another promising free-kick now for Everton. It’s Richarlison again who wins the set piece as he goes down under Tomas Soucek’s challenge near the penalty area.

James Rodriguez will get another go from the left…

79 mins: A surprising change for Everton. Cenk Tosun replaces Everton top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin who has now gone five matches without a goal. 

Tosun, meanwhile, hasn’t scored for Everton in over a year. 

77 mins: Tom Davies makes a rash challenge on Michail Antonio when the West Ham forward was heading into trouble out wide on the left. Kevin Friend produces a yellow card. 

73 mins: A double switch for West Ham now as Andriy Yarmolenko and Manuel Lanzini come on for Jarrod Bowen and Pablo Fornals. Two like-for-like changes. 

72 mins: A free-kick now for Everton in a promising area. Richarlison makes a run from deep but is tripped by Jarrod Bowen down the left-hand side. James Rodriguez was standing over the set-piece but West Ham clear well. 

65 mins: A double change now for Everton as James Rodriguez and Andre Gomes replac Gylfi Sigurdsson and Bernard.

Michail Antonio gets his first chance of the game as he tries to take advantage of a mistake from Seamus Coleman, but the Hammers forward’s shot is too easy for Jordan Pickford.

64 mins: Massive chance for West Ham. The best of the game so far. 

Jarrod Bowen cuts inside from the right and Pablo Fornals has a free header inside the box. The West Ham midfielder gets his bearings all wrong and heads wide under no pressure. 

A huge chance wasted.

63 mins: Now a shot at the other end. Bernard feeds the underlapping Seamus Coleman inside the penalty area and the Everton captain tries a first-time shot which Darren Randolph has to hold.

The game’s heating up a bit…

62 mins: West Ham are upping the ante here. A corner is cleared as far as Pablo Fornals who tries a ‘Maunel Lanzini-style against Spurs volley’.

The Hammers midfielder connects with the ball very well and Pickford has to make another save. 

61 mins: Aaron Cresswell’s free-kick is dangerous and Jordan Pickford has to punch the ball away right underneath his crossbar.

That’s the first save the England number one has had to make this match. 

60 mins: Free-kick in a very good position for West Ham. Vladimir Coufal beats Ben Godfrey on the right-hand side but is hauled back by the Everton man. 

The full-back is in the book and the Hammers have a free-kick right on the edge of the box. Aaron Cresswell is over it…

59 mins: Here’s a substitution that could give us a goal. Michail Antonio returns from injury as he replaces Sebastian Haller up front. 

55 mins: Inches away for West Ham. Declan Rice is played in down the left with a quick free-kick and the midfielder puts in a delicious low cross across the six-yard box. 

Sebastian Haller is stretching to tap into an empty net but can’t quite make connection with the ball. 

52 mins: Seamus Coleman – recently back from injury – goes on an industrious run down the right.

His deep cross finds Richarlison at the back post but the Brazilian’s shot is closed down by Vladimir Coufal. 

49 mins: Dominic Calvert-Lewin goes down in the penalty area under a West Ham challenge but referee Kevin Friend waves away any quiet shouts for a spot kick.

Nothing in that – a fair shoulder to shoulder challenge. 

46 mins: A bright start from Everton and a good tempo to start this second-half.

Tom Davies’ chip over the top of the West Ham defence and Seamus Coleman is in on goal but Darren Randolph comes out well to punch the ball away. 

46 mins: Everton get us back underway. The home side are shooting towards the Gwladys Street End in this second-half. 

Both teams are out for the second-half. We’re desperate for a better showing than that opening 45 minutes.

David Moyes provided an update on Ryan Fredericks’ absence before the match. The defender is self-isolating due to coronavirus. 

The Hammers also lost goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski to injury in the warm-up. See Sportsmail’s story on the double blow below…

We may be in a New Year but that half belonged in the woeful 2020.

An opening 45 minutes bereft of chances and an overall cagey affair. Aaron Cresswell and Bernard have had their side’s best opportunities.

45 mins: Finally! A shot on target!

Gylfi Sigurdsson’s corner is cleared as far as Bernard who fires in a volley from 25 yards out. Darren Randolph does well to get down and parry the ball away. A good stop from the stand-in goalkeeper.

We’ll have two additional minutes before the interval.

44 mins: Everton win a free-kick as Pablo Fornals fouls Bernard a few yards outside the penalty area on the right-hand side.

Gylfi Sigurdsson whips in the set piece but it’s nowhere near the cluster of players inside the box.

That pretty much sums up the half. 

43 mins: A few minutes left in this half where there’s been very little to talk about. 

James Rodriguez must be itching to get off the substitutes’ bench.

35 mins: Darren Randolph has been a bit slack in terms of his kicking. The West Ham goalkeeper’s last three or four long punts forward have either gone out of play or straight to an Everton player.

Randolph was drafted in as a last minute option following Lukasz Fabianski’s injury and his lack of sharpness is showing. 

31 mins: The visitors venture forward again. Said Benrahma feeds Aaron Cresswell inside the penalty area and the left-back blasts a shot wide of Jordan Pickford’s far post.

David Moyes’ side are looking bright at the home of the team looking to go second this evening.

30 mins: A bit more intensity coming from West Ham. Vladimir Coufal’s cross is cleared as far as Sebastian Haller who has some space in the penalty area but three Everton defenders shepherd him away from danger.

24 mins: Another corner – this time for West Ham. Jarrod Bowen crosses for Sebastian Haller who is right inside the six-yard box but the Frenchman heads wide. 

This game’s warming up a bit… we just need a bit more quality from open play. 

22 mins: Everton win a corner and the home side get their first shot of the game.

Gylfi Sigurdsson swings in the corner but Dominic Calvert-Lewin gets underneath is and can only head over the bar.

An effort that sums up the opening quarter of this match so far…

19 mins: It’s been a slow opening to top-flight football in 2021. No real clear-cut chances for either side at Goodison Park.

The Hammers are sitting in a very low block as they look to frustrate Everton.

17 mins: A big injury concern for West Ham as Craig Dawson has gone to ground in an off-the ball incident. 

The West Ham defender tried to clear the ball then collapsed to the floor after his two feet landed on the ground.

Dawson is sitting up but this is not what David Moyes would have wanted. The Hammers lost Lukasz Fabianski in the warm-up. 

11 mins: Everton are coming forward a lot more now with Richarlison and Bernard trying to use their pace on the wings. 

The Toffees pair could work on their crosses, however, with West Ham able to clear their lines easy after some low deliveries. 

7 mins: Another testing cross for West Ham. Aaron Cresswell delivers from the left and Jarrod Bowen manages to get a head on the cross.

Bowen doesn’t get enough on the effort and Jordan Pickford is there to claim the header.

6 mins: A first foray forward for Everton. Bernard strides forward and feeds Gylfi Sigurdsson down the left. The Toffees midfielder tries to find Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the box but Craig Dawson sticks out a leg.

The Hammers defender pushes the ball back towards his own goal but stand-in goalkeeper Darren Randolph collects.

4 mins: West Ham look like they’re playing a 4-4-2 formation with Said Benrahma partnering Sebastian Haller up front. Pablo Fornals is operating from the left as usual.

The Hammers also have Michail Antonio back on the bench after a hamstring injury. David Moyes says the striker has around 15 minutes of play in his legs. 

1 min: West Ham start on the front foot. Jarrod Bowen puts in a teasing cross but Mason Holgate is there to clear.

The Everton man gets the nod over Michael Keane who is being rested during this busy winter schedule. 

0 mins: We’re up and running for Premier League football in 2021. West Ham kick us off at Goodison Park.

The teams are in the tunnel ahead of this first Premier League game of 2020. Well, for West Ham they have to emerge from a special dressing room in the car park so it’s not really a tunnel for them. 

Will it be a Happy New Year for the Toffees or the Hammers?

 

Ten minutes to go until kick-off and there’s a blow for West Ham. Lukasz Fabianski has been injured in the warm-up so Darren Randolph comes in.

Here’s a reminder of the two line-ups:

Everton XI: Pickford, Coleman, Holgate, Mina, Godfrey, Doucoure, Davies, Bernard, Sigurdsson, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.

West Ham XI: Randolph, Coufal, Dawson, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Benrahma, Bowen, Soucek, Fornals, Haller.

 

Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti on the squad changes: ‘We have more players. We have Richarlison back from concussion, James on the bench.

‘It’s good to have important players on the bench. Now the squad is improving, we are recovering players and so we can prepare well for the next games.

‘(On Alex Iwobi not being in the squad) A little problem during training. He was a bit tired, I didn’t want to take a risk like Michael Keane who is on the bench. He played a lot fo games and it will be good for him to get a rest.’

A concern for West Ham could be Everton’s freshness after the Toffees were given a week off due to coronavirus.

Midweek opponents Manchester City picked up at least seven coronavirus cases and asked to postpone Monday’s contest at Goodison Park. 

Carlo Ancelotti’s side were furious that City returned to training so quickly – could they unleash their anger on West Ham this evening?

It could be a big month for Declan Rice both on and off the pitch.

The midfielder, who captains West Ham tonight, is looking to cement a starting spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad with good performances while he may keep an eye on some transfer speculation.

West Ham’s club captain Mark Noble hopes Rice will commit his future to the Hammers this season, claiming the England international will get better with age. 

Everton fans may be slightly concerned about the recent form of top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The England international has not scored in four matches but Carlo Ancelotti has jumped to the defence of his start striker.

The Toffees boss claims Calvert-Lewin has still been integral to the Toffees’ form – which has seen them win the last four games even without the forward’s goals.

James Rodriguez could make his long-awaited return from injury after four games on the treatment table.

But how much of a difference has the Colombian midfielder made his arriving on loan from Real Madrid at the start of the season.

Sportsmail’s JOE STRANGE analyses Rodriguez’s season at Goodison Park so far…

David Moyes will be speaking to some familiar faces this evening as he returns to Goodison Park in West Ham colours.

The Scot spent 11 years at Everton and achieved a top-four finish with the Toffees in 2005. If Moyes ends up on the losing side this evening then Carlo Ancelotti’s side will be close to replicating that achievement sixteen years later.

West Ham make three changes from the side who earned a goalless draw away at Southampton in midweek. 

Said Benrahma starts on the wing for David Moyes’ side with Pablo Fornals moving to the centre of midfield. Manuel Lanzini drops out of the line-up.

Jarrod Bowen and Vladimir Coufal are both restored to the side in place of Andriy Yarmolenko and Ryan Fredericks.

West Ham XI (4-5-1): Fabianski; Coufal, Ogbonna, Dawson, Cresswell; Bowen, Rice (c), Soucek, Fornals, Benrahma; Haller

There are three changes to Everton’s starting line-up but the biggest news comes from the bench as James Rodriguez has returned from injury but will start the match on the touchline.

Seamus Coleman also returns from injury to captain the side. The right-back replaces Michael Keane who drops to the bench, Mason Holgate will partner Yerry Mina at the back.

Richarlison is back for Carlo Ancelotti’s side with the Brazilian replacing Alex Iwobi. Bernard comes in for Anthony Gordon on the other side.

Everton XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Coleman (c), Holgate, Mina, Godfrey; Doucoure, Davies; Richarlison, Sigurdsson Bernard; Calvert-Lewin

Well… 2020 was a whirlwind wasn’t it? But now we look forward to a New Year in very quick fashion with Everton vs West Ham in the Premier League.

The first game of 2021 sees Carlo Ancelotti’s Toffees looking for a fifth straight win which would lift them up to second place this evening. 

David Moyes, meanwhile, returns to Goodison Park without a win in four and with his West Ham side sitting six points behind Everton in the table.

Kick-off is at 5.30pm GMT and we’ll have team news in around ten minutes…

 

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